Category:Working Within the Taoist Tradition

From Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers

Taoism or Daoism is a mingled religious and philosophical tradition that originated in China, in which the basic concept is that adherents seek to establish harmony with the Tao, which is the mechanism of everything that exists. The word "Tao" or "Dao" literally means "nature," but in English it is usually translated as "way," "path," or "principle."

Religious Taoism can be subdivided into organized or clerical Taoism, which is administered by priests or Dàoshi and is visible in the form of temples, and folk or popular Taoism, which is practiced in the home and through local village festivals. Philosophical Taoism is primarily propagated through books, essays, and literature.

Reverence for ancestor spirits and immortals is common in popular Taoism. Among the most popular of the Taoist deities are Mazu or Matsu, the Mother Goddess of the Sea; Fu De or Tu Di Gong, the Earth God of Wealth and Merit; and Guan Yu, also known as Kwan Dai, Kuan Ti, or Kuan Kung, the Military Emperor God who is a just and noble warrior.

The Three Jewels of the Tao are compassion, moderation, and humility. Taoist thought generally focuses on nature; the relationship between humanity and the cosmos; health and longevity; and wu wei (action through inaction). Harmony with the Universe, or the source thereof (Tao), is the intended result of many Taoist rules and practices.

Both the religious and philosophical forms of Taoism have had a profound influence on the culture of China and neighboring Asian nations. Chinese alchemy (including Neidan), astrology, cuisine, Zen Buddhism, several Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, feng shui, and many styles of qigong have been intertwined with Taoism throughout history.

Contents

Taoist Deities

The Deities of Taoism are quite varied and comprise a long list of ancient Chinese Animist star gods, historical personages who have been elevated to godhood, and cosmological entities known through scripture. (Read more ...)

Taoism and Hoodoo

Taoism forms a minor current in hoodoo folk magic which originated mostly on the West Coast, in New York City, and in Chicago.

The greatest overlap between Taoism and conjure, a form of magic primarily practiced by Protestant Christians, is centered in California. This is the result of the late 19th and early 20th century cultural intermingling of African Americans with Cantonese Chinese immigrants who were adherents of Taoism and Taoist-influenced Cantonese Buddhist and indigenous Chinese religious traditions.

Among the Chinese Taoist and Buddhist images and goods which became part of hoodoo iconography and practice were such items as Chinese Wash, Hotei the Lucky or LaughingBuddha, and Ling Nuts, the latter known colloquially in the USA as Bat Nuts or Devil Pods.

National distribution of products such as these, while not part of a true cultural integration of Taoist into African American society, nevertheless brought a great many hoodoo practitioners into contact with Taoist concepts and imagery.

See Also

Religion

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The Association of Independent Readers & Rootworkers (AIRR) is here to help you find gifted, sincere, and honest spiritual guidance, successful counseling, and professional magical spell casting and ritual conjuration. Every independent member of AIRR has been certified for psychic ability, magical skill, and ethical reliability. Every AIRR psychic, reader, seer, diviner, scryer, root doctor, and spiritual practitioner has completed a year-long program of training in conjure, hoodoo, witchcraft, rootwork, making mojo hands, and casting powerful magick spells. All of our psychics have served the public professionally for a minimum of two years -- and in many cases, significantly longer. Certified AIRR Readers & Rootworkers who will perform this type of work to help you find love, money, protection, and luck are listed below.